Which Type of Birth Control Is Best for You?

What kind of birth control should I use?

"My husband and I use birth control because we don't want to have more kids. We're not worried about STDs, so what are our other options besides the Pill (I'm not crazy about being on hormones) or condoms (my hubby hates them)?"

It's great that you're weighing your options: When you feel confident and comfortable with your contraceptive method, you can better relax and enjoy sex. Luckily, you have many choices.

One often-overlooked option for long-term birth control is the IUD (intrauterine device). There are two types: a T-shaped copper device that you leave in for up to 12 years, and another containing the hormone progestin that lasts for five years. Less-permanent methods like the diaphragm and condom are also effective when used properly. Condoms have gotten a bad rap with men, understandably the old ones were thick and didn't offer much sensation. But the new thinner versions like the Inspiral, which has extra latex at the top that massages the head of the penis provide much more pleasure for men. If guys would open their minds and give condoms a shot with a dab of lube inside they might actually enjoy them!

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If you are totally sure that you do not want more kids, consider permanent sterilization. (I usually reserve this suggestion for women 35 or older, because I have seen so many younger women regret their decision.) The traditional procedure, tubal ligation, requires surgery. But a new procedure called Essure, in which a steel coil is placed inside your Fallopian tubes to keep sperm from entering, can be performed in your doctor's office. Or consider male sterilization, a.k.a. vasectomy. I know what you're thinking: For most guys my husband included! the thought of a knife in their most sensitive area is enough to send chills down their spine. But vasectomy is safe, can be performed in the doctor's office, and is more easily reversible than female sterilization.

All that said, birth control pills are still my favorite method for women who don't smoke. (Smokers on the Pill increase their risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke.) Low-dose oral contraceptives are totally safe for healthy women to use until menopause and they even offer some health benefits, like lower risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, and reduced menstrual flow, cramping, and PMS symptoms. To set the record straight, birth control pills have not been shown to significantly increase your risk of breast cancer.

Whatever you decide, remember: It takes two to tango. Your husband is just as responsible for preventing a pregnancy as you are. So talk to him about all of the great options out there (including vasectomy!).